Cal kicker James Langford has famous lineage

BERKELEY -- There are some strong bloodlines running through the Cal football roster. Quarterback Jared Goff's father played major league baseball. Linebacker Hardy Nickerson Jr.'s father starred in the NFL.

Place-kicker James Langford has bragging right over all of them.

When he lines up for his first field-goal try next Saturday at Northwestern, Langford will have the genealogical backing of Ty Cobb and Harry S. Truman.

"Obviously, they performed under pressure situations as well," he said.

A third-year transfer from Cal Poly, Langford acknowledged after Saturday's final practice of fall camp that he wasn't sure about his exact relation to the owner of baseball's highest career batting average or the nation's 33rd president.

His father, Jim, confirmed that Cobb and Truman are direct relations on his side of the family. Cobb is a cousin to James Langford's great-grandfather on his grandmother's side, and Truman is cousin to James' great-grandmother on his grandfather's side.

Don't worry, James was confused, too.

"It's a cool thing being related to all these great people," he said. "Now that we're talking about this, I feel like I should know more about it."

Langford's primary concern these days is showing he can deliver during games the way he has in fall camp. He got the nod this week as the starter because of improved consistency.

"They wouldn't allow me to have one bad day," Langford said. "If I was perfect for three days, then missed two kicks, I'd hear about it."

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Leg strength was never an issue. Langford made a 57-yard field goal in a high school all-star game, a kick he said he's watched 50 times on YouTube.

Freshman Luke Rubenzer has won the No. 2 quarterback job behind Goff and has gotten plenty of practice reps showing his skills as a runner. But Dykes said Rubenzer isn't likely to play at Northwestern.

"I would probably say no," Dykes said. "Jared's pretty established."

Rubenzer, from Scottsdale, Arizona, said he's generally satisfied with his fall camp performance and has learned not to fret over things he can't control. "I've done what I wanted to do," he said.

Provided Goff is productive and healthy, Rubenzer accepts the possibility he could be redshirted.

"If he's doing well and there's no reason for me to burn my redshirt, then that's the way it is," said Rubenzer, who credited Goff and senior reserve Austin Hinder as being great mentors. "I'll just come out here every day, practice, have fun, try to get better."

Goff, fullback Lucus Gingold, running back Daniel Lasco, safety Michael Lowe, safety Stefan McClure and defensive end Brennan Scarlett were elected team captains by their teammates.

Sophomores Michael Barton and Nickerson are likely to share the middle linebacker spot, Dykes said. Freshman Devante Downs has performed well in fall camp but might see more action on special teams for now.